Narrative:

At approximately 30 mph on landing roll out on runway 34; the airplane departed the runway; crossing a grassy area; and struck a runway sign on the right side resulting in damage to the horizontal stabilizer. Weather was not a factor. My landing; using 20 degrees of flaps; was within the first third of the runway and was uneventful. Using aerodynamic braking by holding the nose up; I allowed the plane to decelerate. When I applied the brakes I immediately realized something was wrong and verbalized this to my passenger who is a pilot. The left brake was not responsive although the right responded. I decided that to continue straight ahead would result in a propeller strike by hitting a drainage area and/or the fence. I depressed the right brake hard and the plane traveled off the runway to the right crossing the grass; missing the reflectors but hitting the metal runway sign. I taxied back to my hangar. On the day of the accident I flew approximately two hours from the east and landed to drop off a passenger. Landing on runway 27 and taxiing to the FBO; I had no indication of possible brake problems. I departed and took off on runway 35. I use differential braking to help steer when taxiing and again no indication of a possible problem with the left brake. I have developed an extensive checklist because of the power and complexity of the T210. I will add check brakes before takeoff and a brake check on downwind to test their responsiveness. Gear is down before I enter the pattern at the 45 so this additional task does not interfere with my routine.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210's left brake failed on landing causing it to depart the runway at a very slow speed. Some damage too the horizontal stabilizer resulted.

Narrative: At approximately 30 MPH on landing roll out on Runway 34; the airplane departed the runway; crossing a grassy area; and struck a runway sign on the right side resulting in damage to the horizontal stabilizer. Weather was not a factor. My landing; using 20 degrees of flaps; was within the first third of the runway and was uneventful. Using aerodynamic braking by holding the nose up; I allowed the plane to decelerate. When I applied the brakes I immediately realized something was wrong and verbalized this to my passenger who is a pilot. The left brake was not responsive although the right responded. I decided that to continue straight ahead would result in a propeller strike by hitting a drainage area and/or the fence. I depressed the right brake hard and the plane traveled off the runway to the right crossing the grass; missing the reflectors but hitting the metal runway sign. I taxied back to my hangar. On the day of the accident I flew approximately two hours from the east and landed to drop off a passenger. Landing on Runway 27 and taxiing to the FBO; I had no indication of possible brake problems. I departed and took off on Runway 35. I use differential braking to help steer when taxiing and again no indication of a possible problem with the left brake. I have developed an extensive checklist because of the power and complexity of the T210. I will add check brakes before takeoff and a brake check on downwind to test their responsiveness. Gear is down before I enter the pattern at the 45 so this additional task does not interfere with my routine.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.